Peter Tatchell named as Secularist of the Year

Tatchell was presented with the £5,000 Irwin Prize by the author and campaigner Nick Cohen on Saturday 17th March.

Clive Bone, a councillor at the centre of the council prayer victory in the High Court was presented with the £1,000 Simon Biber Memorial prize for special achievement.

President of the National Secular Society Terry Sanderson commended Tatchell's contribution towards the defense of human rights saying: 'We are very pleased to have been able to reward Peter's lifelong commitment to human rights and to honour his support for a just and inclusive secular society.

'He has been active in many progressive campaigns over the past forty or more years, not least in gay rights, and has had to endure much public and press abuse because of it.

'But he has persevered and now he has made the unprecedented transition from public enemy number one to national treasure.'

The Secularist of the Year award, also known as the Irwin Prize, is presented annually to people considered to have made an outstanding contribution to secularism. The first prize was awarded in 2005 with previous winners including Steve Jones, Maryam Namazie and Lord Avebury